{{Short description|Genus of legumes}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Afbeeldingen van zeldzaame gewassen (Tab. XVI) BHL285511.jpg | image_caption = ''Melolobium aethiopicum'' | taxon = Melolobium | authority = Eckl. & Zeyh. | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = 14; see text | subdivision_ref = <ref name = powo/> | synonyms = ''Sphingium'' {{small|E.Mey. (1835)}} | synonyms_ref = <ref name = powo>[https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:22925-1 ''Melolobium'' Eckl. & Zeyh.] ''Plants of the World Online''. Retrieved 6 September 2023.</ref> }}
'''''Melolobium''''' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the legume family, Fabaceae.<ref name = powo/> It includes 14 species of small shrubs or perennial herbs native to southern Africa,<ref name = powo/> which are found in southern and eastern Namibia, southwestern Botswana, and most of South Africa.
These plants are perennial herbs and small shrubs. Leaves are often sticky with exudate from small surface glands. Some have spine-tipped branches.<ref name = powo/> The leaves have three leaflets. The inflorescence is a terminal raceme of flowers. The flowers are yellow, sometimes fading orange or purple.<ref name=mo>Moteetee, A., & van Wyk, B. E. (2006). [http://ben-erikvanwyk.com/181%20-%202006,%20Moteetee,%20Van%20Wyk.pdf A revision of the genus ''Melolobium'' (Genisteae, Fabacaeae).] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811202710/http://ben-erikvanwyk.com/181%20-%202006,%20Moteetee,%20Van%20Wyk.pdf |date=2017-08-11 }} ''South African Journal of Botany'', 72(1), 51-98.</ref>
==Species== ''Melolobium'' comprises the following species:<ref name = powo/><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ildis.org/LegumeWeb?version~10.01&genus~Melolobium&species~ | title = ILDIS LegumeWeb entry for ''Melolobium'' | author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> | website = International Legume Database & Information Service | publisher = Cardiff School of Computer Science & Informatics | accessdate = 15 April 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/splist.pl?7448 | title = GRIN species records of ''Melolobium'' | author = USDA | author-link = USDA | author2 = ARS | author2-link = Agricultural Research Service | author3 = National Genetic Resources Program | date = | website = Germplasm Resources Information Network—(GRIN) [Online Database] | publisher = National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland | accessdate = 15 April 2014 }}</ref> <!-- Melolobium accedens Burtt Davy is a synonym of Melolobium microphyllum --> * ''Melolobium adenodes'' <small>Eckl. & Zeyh.</small> * ''Melolobium aethiopicum'' <small>(L.) Druce</small> * ''Melolobium alpinum'' <small>Eckl. & Zeyh.</small> <!-- Melolobium brachycarpum was reclassified as Melolobium macrocalyx. --> <!-- Melolobium burchellii N.E.Br. is a synonym of Melolobium microphyllum --> * ''Melolobium calycinum'' <small>Benth.</small> <!-- Melolobium canaliculatum (E. Mey.) Benth. is a synonym of Melolobium stipulatum --> * ''Melolobium candicans'' <small>(E. Mey.) Eckl. & Zeyh.</small> <!-- Melolobium canescens (E. Mey.) Benth. is a synonym of Melolobium microphyllum --> <!-- Melolobium cernuum was reclassified as Melolobium aethiopicum. --> <!-- Melolobium collinum Eckl. & Zeyh. is a synonym of Melolobium adenodes --> <!-- Melolobium decorum Dümmer is a synonym of Melolobium candicans --> <!-- Melolobium decumbens (E. Mey.) Burtt Davy --> * ''Melolobium exudans'' <small>Harv.</small> <!-- Melolobium glanduliferum Dümmer is a synonym of Melolobium glanduliferum --> * ''Melolobium humile'' <small>Eckl. & Zeyh.</small> <!-- Melolobium involucratum was reclassified as Polhillia involucratum. --> <!-- Melolobium karasbergense L.Bolus is a synonym of Melolobium adenodes --> * ''Melolobium lampolobum'' <small>(E.Mey.) Moteetee & B.-E.van Wyk</small> * ''Melolobium macrocalyx'' <small> Dümmer</small> * ''Melolobium microphyllum'' <small>(L.f.) Eckl. & Zeyh.</small> <!-- Melolobium mixtum Dümmer is as synonym of Melolobium microphyllum --> * ''Melolobium obcordatum'' <small>Harv.</small> <!-- Melolobium parviflorum is a synonym of Melolobium candicans --> <!-- Melolobium peglerae Dümmer is a synonym of Melolobium alpinum --> <!-- Melolobium psammophilum was reclassified as Melolobium macrocalyx. --> <!-- Melolobium spicatum Eckl. & Zeyh. is a synonym of Melolobium aethiopicum --> <!-- Melolobium squarrosum Eckl. & Zeyh. is a synonym of Melolobium candicans --> <!-- Melolobium stenophyllum was reclassified as Melolobium macrocalyx. --> * ''Melolobium stipulatum'' <small>Harv.</small> * ''Melolobium subspicatum'' <small>Conrath</small> <!-- Melolobium villosum Harms is a synonym of Melolobium calycinum --> <!-- Melolobium viscidulum Steud. is a synonym of Melolobium adenodes --> * ''Melolobium wilmsii'' <small>Harms</small>
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q5220933}}
Category:Genisteae Category:Fabaceae genera Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Category:Flora of Southern Africa
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